First NH3-fuelled X-DF-A engine to be delivered in Q1 2025

The company plans to begin engine tests on the unique, purpose built single-cylinder engine located at its Engine Research & Innovation Centre (ERIC) in Winterthur and a multi-cylinder test engine at WinGD’s Global Test Centre in Shanghai. The beginning of engine tests follows the successful conclusion of combustion tests at WinGD research facilities in December 2022.

WinGD notes that its Spray Combustion Chamber (SCC) at ERIC Winterthur has enabled the rapid development of 2-stroke combustion concepts and emission models. Since first ignition on the validation platform in 2022, the team has gained a wealth of insights into the combustion and emission characteristics which form the basis for a rapid deployment of the technology to the portfolio. WinGD can now provide accurate figures for ammonia consumption and relevant emissions.

Alongside the rapid development of WinGD’s X-DF-A engine platform, WinGD notes that commercial interest in its engines is also increasing, citing concrete orders for its engine concept.

WinGD has disclosed ammonia fuel technology developments involving two shipowners. Last month it signed an agreement with AET Tankers and sister company Akademi Laut Malaysia to develop crew training on ammonia engines. In January 2023 it announced a partnership with CMB.Tech, a sister company of Belgian shipowner CMB, to develop ammonia-fuelled engines for ten 210,000 DWT bulk carriers

The developments are supported by strong collaborations with engine and ship builders in China, Japan and Korea, as well as by WinGD’s own extensive investment in research. Most recently, in June WinGD signed a memorandum of understanding with Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd to prepare X-DF-A for application across a range of vessel sizes and for integration with the engine builder’s ammonia fuel supply system. This follows a development project with Hyundai Heavy Industries initiated in June 2022.

WinGD CEO Dominik Schneiter said: “For the industry to be truly ready for alternative fuels, the engine concepts that use them – and the vessel designs, auxiliary systems, crew training and field support network – need to be ready before the fuels become widely available. Our development timeframe, as evidenced by these milestones in research and collaboration, shows that we are on track to give shipowners and operators the time they need to prepare for decarbonised ship power using ammonia as fuel.”